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The Three Ambassadors of the Lollipop Theatre Guild
By
Greg (Gregoriancant)
There’s a joyous type of commotion here in the hospital tonight that was so palpable, I could literally feel it down in my room. It’s the sound of inspiration…and the sounds of anticipating something exciting. It’s also the kind of sound I’ve always wanted to hear all my life…so I had to go and peek around the corner that looks into the group activity room to see what was stirring up the whole place. I remember a few past activities that brought out the best in us in the activity room—but never like this. Looks like a big box of various DVD’s and CD’s arrived in a mail shipment…and the kids are huddled around a boom box playing a CD by someone named Katharine McPhee. I think I just heard some nurses go by me saying that there’s a rumor this Katharine McPhee might stop by our hospital tonight for a surprise visit. It’s Christmas Eve, you know. I’ve never had a chance to see a notable person in this hospital before either, which makes tonight one of the most interesting nights I’ve ever seen in here.
I can’t believe the sound of Katharine’s voice on that CD the other kids are playing. It may be one of the most beautiful voices I’ve ever heard in my short life. Well, I’m only 12 and have my own private room not far down the hall. I’m kind of independent from the other kids recently and might be a little out of the loop. Even though I’ve had cancer like a lot of kids here, I had it extra bad compared to the others. And that sometimes made me unable to participate in a lot of activities here. But lately, I’ve snuck out of my room on my own to take in various things the other kids have going on. I remember now hearing about Katharine McPhee’s name and that program she started where people could donate money to bring in DVD’s and CD’s to the kids in various children’s hospitals. Ironic that her own CD of her singing ‘Over the Rainbow’ is playing in the activity room…and everybody’s transfixed with her voice. There’s some kind of form of healing going on there…I can tell.
Now a nurse is coming in and turning the CD off for a minute. She’s telling the kids to come out of their trances for a minute and get ready to meet a special guest. I’m expecting some old guy dressed like Santa Claus to come in the room any minute—though I’ve always been able to detect the sound of those older guys playing Santa coming down the main hallway based on the jingling sounds they usually make while they move around. That’s usually from the little bells attached to their knapsack loaded with candy canes and other little things they pass out to the kids. Right now, it seems eerily quiet down that hallway as if it’s someone else entirely…and maybe entering from a different direction. It’s so quiet I can even hear the breathing of the kids in the activity room. I can tell they anticipate someone different arriving tonight too.
Oh My God—I was right! It’s Katharine McPhee! And she and her entourage just came down the hallway I’m standing in…because there’s an alternate entrance down the way from here. They also managed to sneak up behind me without me hearing anything—though I notice that Katharine and her group are trying to stay quiet to surprise the other kids. Funny she and her entourage didn’t notice me standing here right away…but I hope she will later. I’ll be here watching what she does with those other kids. They just now went wild when they saw her enter the room—and I’ve never seen kids in this hospital beam with as much excitement as they are right now. Katharine looks like she’s ecstatic herself as if she’d rather be nowhere else but here right now. Plus, it’s early evening when a lot of famous people would be with their families having a big dinner for Christmas Eve. It’s really a mutual feeling of happiness and respect from both sides, which I’ve never really noticed that strongly before when famous people visited here before. I don’t remember a famous person ever visiting on Christmas Eve either.
Well, seeing all this really energizes me too. Perhaps Katharine picks that up in me—because after she just did some small talk with those other kids, she started getting into a serious discussion with them about things that make them feel better. Almost all the kids said that having someone visit here that inspires them made them feel better for awhile. They all admitted that having Katharine there was the thing that will sustain them mentally into the new year. I’m aware that many of them are terminal with various illnesses and may not live another year. It’s also obvious Katharine realizes this herself…because a genuine tear has been slowly going down her cheek for the last few minutes. Though it seems she detects more than that going on here in this hospital. I hope she realizes I’m still over here. Coincidentally, she just asked one of the nurses if she can go walk up the hallway a minute to gain her composure—and check out a room she was interested in. The nurse gave the ok and walked with her up to the point of the hallway near where I’m still standing. I suspect that she knows I’m here somewhere…and wants to search for me.
Now she’s telling the nurse that she wants to wander down the hallway by herself for minute. I’ll just trail her and see where she goes…and it’s obvious she’s heading for the doorway where my room is. Now she’s going into the room for a minute. In there, she’ll discover that we generally have about four or five kids living together in the same treatment rooms. A lot of the times, we’re bedridden, but we have moments like the one today where it takes us away from all that and makes us believe we’re healthy. Katharine’s also looking at all the empty beds that are in that room. Most of them are empty because those kids are out there in the activity room where I hope she’ll go back after she’s done in here. Though I suspect it’s going to be a little longer before she gets back there.
It almost seems now that she can hear me describing all this to you. The reason is because she’s looking down at my bed where I usually spent a lot of time due to my condition.
Katharine, if you can hear me, it seems you’re more perceptive than even I thought. Maybe you can pick up that I used to reside in that bed for a while…before finally succumbing to leukemia. It’s been quite a while too—probably 23 years ago or so…despite feeling like only yesterday for me now. I’ve never really left here…other than sometimes checking in to see how my parents are doing now and my healthy brother and sister who lived on, went to college and became successful adults with their own families now. I guess if you’ve heard all that…I should introduce myself as sort of an ambassador to this hospital. I’m an official representative of this hospital’s past and how it was here before your time. You’re the first person I’ve seemed to connect to. It almost makes me wonder if we were meant to connect right after I passed. I used to believe in thoughts of people with unfinished lives sometimes being instilled in important people who might be able to make a difference in some connected way.
All that thought might be a bit off the wall for you. But I can see you nodding there as you look down at that bed and have another tear running down your cheek a little faster than the other one did in the activity room. It’s not even the same bed I used and you still seem to be able to pick up on and understand what I may have gone through. But just know that I appreciate you being here…because back when I was here, we had some celebrities come visit us—but nobody as beautiful and caring as you are. I’ve only known about you for about an hour now…and I can truly see that in you. Also…
Katharine! Katharine, did I hear you utter my name under your breath? I think I heard you say “John” while looking up a minute. Yes, yes, you said it again! You just made my Christmas Eve, Katharine…because that’s my name. You must have heard me and know I’m around here. Or, at least you sense that I existed here once, and hopefully you wish you could have been here for me then to make my day a little brighter. Just know that you have made me feel better by being here. On a daily basis, I see the new kids that have come in here in the last year and worry about their mental well-being. In fact, it’s been that way for the last 23 years. Seeing 23 years of kids who’ve resided in here, and wishing I or someone else could help them feel better somehow, hasn’t been a fun experience. I know the power of mental healing, though, Katharine. I can tell you understand that concept and just do that naturally by you just showing up. I can also tell your singing voice does the same thing to just about anybody who breathes.
God, I hate to see you leave my room now…but I understand you have to go back to the other kids in the activity room before it gets too late. I’m happy that I was around to connect with you Katharine—and I hope we can actually meet in a true physical way someday. Being more perceptive myself around this place all these years, I know there’s two other ambassadors here who you may want to try to connect with tonight. They represent something different from what I represent…but still just as important to you before you leave here.
Have a Merry Christmas, Katharine! You’ve made mine here tonight one of the best ever just seeing you change this place to a state it hasn’t seen since it’s existed. There’s no question you’ve improved my own state of mind…despite already being in a different state of mind. But believe me when I say it still matters then too.
I’ll continue to watch you interact with the other kids in the activity room. And, with that, I want to introduce you to our next ambassador. Her name’s Brandy…
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Katharine, if you can hear me…I’m that 10-year-old dark-haired girl who shook your hand first when you came into the room a while ago. I’m connecting with you through this way because that’s the usual way all three of the ambassadors here connect with one another. We’re all kind of a connective chain here who communicate through this method to get messages across easier. I’ve known about John for a while now and knew he’d connect with you. My bed is actually right in the spot where he had his in that room you went into. Excuse him not knowing much about you either—because he lived back in the day when Michael Jackson was the big deal music star. He and the kids from that era heard a rumor that Michael was going to come and visit here in those days…but it turned into a logistical problem that never happened. Needless to say, it sort of soured him on celebrities coming here to visit sick kids who needed a boost in spirits.
I guess you can call me a representative of this hospital’s present and who has a congenital heart problem that’s kept me in and out of here for about a year. I can tell you and I really connected there when you came in the room. While we talked, you kept looking at me…almost as if you sort of saw yourself as a kid in me. I’d sure like to have a sister or mother like you. I know all about you and even post sometimes on a message board dedicated to you during times I’m well and able to surf the net in my room. Thank God we at least have computers with internet access here so we can find a way of connecting somehow to the people we admire. I can really sense that you’re a sensitive person who can tap into the feelings of people experiencing pain. That’s why I’ve taken John’s lead here and trying to communicate with you in a different way. Now that I see you coming down the hall and back into the activity room to be with us…maybe I can connect with you a little better in that particular way.
My ambassador role is to try to prove to you the impact you’ve made by coming here tonight. Maybe you picked up on that when I just asked you to sing a song for us when you asked all of us what activity we wanted to do before you left for the night. That look you gave me when I asked seemed to indicate to me that you understand what I meant in what it could potentially do if you sang to us. But now it’s even better that you’re telling us that you have an original Christmas tale you want to tell us with a few original songs you co-wrote to go along with it. We all can’t believe it that you’re planning on releasing this as a CD and book set next year…and we’re all getting the first preview of it here tonight. This is unbelievable, Kat, and just perfect to showcase what I want to prove to you tonight…
Somehow it isn’t surprising your story takes place in a children’s hospital. And it’s about a winter fairy arriving by chance one night to take the sick kids away to a magical winter playground where you can be free and have fun without worrying about the consequences of what it’d do to their health. That part is set up so perfectly for that song you’re singing for us right now called ‘From Cold to Warm Hands.’ I can’t get over how you can make a whole song work without even having anybody accompanying you on a piano or guitar. You’re just amazing singing it a cappella for all of us…and you can hear the entire hospital go quiet while you sing this gentle ballad through. You truly bring out the magic from that world in your story, Kat. You also obviously understand the story word for word too. Though knowing you, you have some twists in this story that we haven’t heard yet.
I knew you’d have at least one fun song in this story. That second song you just sang called ‘No Limits’ tells about how those kids become so entwined into this world that they forget they’re sick. It’s one of those R&B songs I love from you with a catchy groove to it. It fits you so well and what the kids are thinking in that story. I’m glad you reveal that the winter fairy actually created this environment for them so it truly is safe and not harmful for them.
Now that final song you’re singing gives the payoff to the story: ‘Healing In The Moment.’ That title tells it all right there…and how those kids managed to forget everything and zone in on another train of thought that was mentally healthy for them. And, as you tell it, that released something in their minds that started a healing process…even if it was a temporary process. I’m glad you have the winter fairy not even remind them that they were sick—because that time and place was something they’d never experienced and it would be a place from then on where they could go to be healthy. What a great way to close the story by having them go back to reality in the hospital and have doctors discover a lot of miraculous medical events took place. All the kids experienced some kind of remission from their illnesses--whether that was from tumors receding, pain being decreased or diseases disappearing completely for a while. This was a direct result of their personal thought processes and having the help of the winter fairy to take them there.
Gee, Kat…I assume you’re going to play the winter fairy on that CD/book set? You ARE her in many ways for us tonight. That story—and especially your songs--truly mesmerized all of us in here as you can see on all the kids’ faces. I’ve never seen any of my friends here be swept away like that and be put into some kind of trance by a singer. Even I went into a different frame of mind…despite communicating with you at the same time. Look at the nurses too. They’re all huddled around us kids who are sitting in a circle around you on the floor—and I’ve told the nurses all about you. They know you have a one-of-a-kind voice. I give them some credit for forwarding to the superiors here that I wanted you to visit us. One of the nurses told me yesterday that they’d heard a rumor you had several hospitals in mind to secretly visit on Christmas Eve—but you felt drawn to this one to visit on this night. What you probably don’t know is what we all planned for you after the rumor spread you might be here with us tonight. I can see one of the nurses going up to you now to tell you about that just as you’re about to lead us all in a Christmas carol sing-a-long…
There, now you know that the nurses are going to have us take some basic medical tests to see how our conditions have changed just since you’ve been here with us tonight. There won’t be major miracles—but noticeable physiological changes in all the kids. Go ahead and follow the nurses and all of us into one of the medical rooms so you can find out what I think you’ll be surprised by. Just look there at my friend Danny. The nurse is taking his blood pressure—and it’s gone down probably twenty points. He has an arterial condition that makes his blood pressure rise at alarming levels on a lot of days. Then look at Sandra over there. The nurse just checked out the swelling in her feet that happens because of her edema that’s caused from an enlarged heart condition she’s had for a several years. Her feet are only half swollen than usual. Todd over there has a spinal condition and hasn’t been able to walk because of his legs being paralyzed. He just jumped a little when he could slightly feel the cold hand of the nurse on one of his feet. I had to let out that loud laugh when you touched his other foot…and Todd jumped even more.
I can tell you’re amazed at all of this—yet still perplexed at what’s happening. Maybe I can help finalize it for you now that the nurse is checking my heart rate. I have a heart condition that causes an irregular beat most of the time…and it’s at a calm rate right now. The nurse said that’s the first time that’s happened in all the time I’ve been in the hospital for treatment.
There was an interview with you where you said you believed in the power of psychological healing, Kat. That’s where I got the idea and wished you’d visit here—because I know you have that effect on people. You make them feel good. But it’s more than that. That good feeling translates to what you call endorphins that I’ve read a lot about online. Those are released from the brain when you feel ecstatic about something. And they help bring on true changes in the chemistry of the human body when you’re sick. Yes, it’s temporary, though nonetheless important in making us feel more normal when we’re so used to being sick most of the time. It can be brought on by music, or other forms of escapist entertainment. In some cases, the process can work with a celebrity who has the ability to make people feel good. You take people away to another place, Kat, with your voice and charm. You make it work for just about anybody who’s receptive to your style…and I think we have good evidence right here it worked tonight by you showing up.
Now you’re asking to listen to my heart through the nurse’s stethoscope—and I’m more than happy for you to hear my heart in a little more blissful state for at least one night. That light kiss on my forehead afterward you just gave me must be your little signal you’re hearing everything I’m saying to you in your own head. It makes my in-name-only ambassador role for the present state of things in this hospital really complete now.
It looks to me that our own states of bliss will extend a little longer tonight after you started that Christmas sing-a-along right here in the medical room. To me, it makes me want to preserve everything here tonight and keeping the moment available whenever we want to go back to it. Nevertheless, I need to guide you to the last ambassador here tonight: The one for this hospital’s future. That’s really the most important one here…and we usually get a new one every so often. To be honest, I really don’t know who that ambassador is lately. You’ll have to listen for yourself to see who it is—but it has to be someone even younger than any of us.
Wait, Kat….did you hear that? I think I hear that next ambassador for you calling out your name in another room. It’s in the room where the sick newborns are of all things. It sounds like it’s coming from that new sick baby who came in yesterday from the McLean family. I think that little one was born Diabetic and needs some special treatment.
Have the greatest Christmas morning ever tomorrow, Kat! God bless you in every way for coming and visiting us here tonight. I’ll be listening along with John what the future ambassador says to you…
Merry Christmas Eve greetings, Kat. I’m sure you find it unusual to be having an intelligent conversation with someone who was just born not long ago. Think of it as a rare chance for someone to witness the deeper mysteries of what happens inside the minds of some people. Even I’m trying to figure out how I ended up back here, but I’ve been told I’m back inside the mind of myself as a newborn. You’re talking to this baby who will grow up and become a famous actor and philanthropist in about twenty-five years. And it’ll be a long, fruitful life too, despite my being near death at birth. Well, my life apparently comes to an end eventually. Perhaps that’s why I’ve come back…because I’ve been told by superiors in a world you can’t see that the future can’t be completely written yet without the actions and free will of human interaction now. I’ve also been told about my status as an ambassador of the future to you on this night. There’s a lot of looking out for you, Kat, in this unseen world. You were specifically chosen to have this all happen in this hospital tonight.
I’ve been given the power for you to see a potential future of this hospital and my own possible unfortunate future. Just place your hand on my forehead, and you’ll be able to see what I’m seeing right now. I don’t know when that future vision is supposed to be, but it looks like it’s maybe a year from now, because some of the same nurses are still here…
Can you see that, Kat? It looks like there’s all-new kids in here. Not one familiar one that I’ve noticed you interacted with tonight. Either the kids got better and got to leave here, or something worse happened that I don’t even want to think about. I’ve communicated with John you talked to earlier—and I felt the pain of those unfortunate deaths from his time. Some of those deaths had frustration and loneliness attached to them that still lingers through these hallways and on into the future. John’s actually the representative of all of those kids who’ve lived and gone through things most people don’t understand for decades.
I didn’t mean to upset you with coming here, Kat. We don’t know what’s happened here, but I have no doubt you’re still visiting this hospital at this indefinite future time whenever you get the chance. Moving up another year seems to indicate there’s little change from the previous year though. There’s no consistent happiness either…and some of the nurses are looking strained from a continuing new group of kids each year with big health problems. In fact, if we go fast-paced through a whole period of twenty years, it’s looking much within the same pattern over and over again. Now that we’re at the 25-year mark, I see a new giant bulletin board up in the activity room. It’s huge, Kat…can you see it? There’s a bunch of photos up there too…
As you can see, it’s a collection of pictures taken in the hospital of you with kids who’ve resided here over the years. It’s twenty-five solid years of you visiting here whenever you got the chance and trying to meet up with the same kids you met the last time. A lot of the pictures, though, have those kids listed as passing away at some point before you could come back. And you’re here on this particular day talking to the new generation of nurses who have heavy burdens dealing with a new generation of sick children. There’s mention of how you made the final days of life for all those wonderful past kids more enjoyable…and that you made them feel better for up to long periods of time. It’s a discussion of life and all its complexities, pains…yet joys within the pain for making lives more pleasant before passing. You seem to be accepting that aspect of life and that it still was an extremely gratifying process for you helping the mental well-being of those kids amid your busy superstar career. The money you helped raise for the Lollipop Theater Network is over a billion dollars at this point.
Let me say, Kat, that John’s still around there at that time…and he’s telling me that there’s a lot more peace around him now as new ambassadors are lined up here to help guide others who’ve devoted significant amounts of time helping in this hospital. You’re the only one, though, who’s had a much deeper experience with the ambassadors in this hospital. And you’ll always be the only one based on the line of time I see.
My statement saying that takes you to the final part of this future trip. There’s a young man unexpectedly entering the premises and entering the room to ask you if you recognize him. I’ve been told that’s me Kat, as that successful actor and philanthropist. It was one of the rare chances in life where I managed to pull through my illness as a newborn and ended up getting a chance to meet you later as an adult. Perhaps you focused on me a little more from earlier periodic visits as a way of hoping you could save at least one life if you ultimately couldn’t save every other life. Whether it was random chance or your own love toward me that made the difference can’t really be said. That’s where it ends with this future trip with you…as a sense that you’re not supposed to know the whys…but only to incite some kind of action.
Now that we’re back—I can see you putting your action to work as you gently keep your hand on my head despite everything you’ve experienced. You’re also singing lightly into my ear while I sleep here hooked up to medical equipment of various kinds. There’s so much inaction in other people due to frustration that seeing such strong committed action on your part in the face of adversity is really what makes why I’m here for you complete. That was my true role here tonight, Kat. It was to reinforce your commitment and make sure it’ll always be there with a true purpose behind it. You’re truly one of the rare ones who can make people with hard lives feel better for a while. Based on what I’ve been told, all these kids here tonight and those from now on are confirmed to feel better for the ensuing two weeks after your visits…before the kids ultimately go back to experiencing more problems.
Wow, Kat, I hope you’re aware of the reaction you’ve just caused here tonight. My parents have arrived and are right outside the door watching you with a silent stunned expression at you interacting with me so lovingly on Christmas Eve. They obviously recognize you and can’t believe that you’re here. I guess I’ll be the only one to know before I can talk someday that you wouldn’t have traded this night for the world…despite still undoubtedly wanting to be with your family. And it’s been a unique Christmas for you where you could truly see all directions of time and meanings in life. That seems to only happen in a handful of famous fictional stories. But I hope you considered that an unparalleled gift while you helped build at least one future for the better.
A Merry Christmas to you, Kat, and to everybody who was receptive on this night. My superiors told me this experience was put out there for other people to detect if they so chose…
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